The first ever ‘Old Gaffers’ race was held on the Solent in 1959, with just 13 boats. A similar race was held on the East Coast of England in 1963 and the growing success of these early races, open to gaff rig boats, led to the formation of the Old Gaffers Association.
Old Gaffers have been invited to join Cowes Classics Week for a number of years, and the event has garnered unqualified support from a number of regular competitors including Chough, Sepia and Winifred (Chough pictured on right).
In 2013, two Howth 17s made the trip from Ireland to join us and in 2015, we issued specific invitations to larger boats and this led to the formation of two fleets, one for the smaller boats and a new fleet for the larger boats.
Our expectation is that we will have sufficient Old Gaffers attending to deliver a 5 race series to both fleets with one race per day from Monday to Friday, with inshore races starting and finishing on the Royal London Yacht Club shoreline in Cowes harbour, with courses designed specifically for the sailing characteristics of the gaff-rigged boat.
Handicapping
The event uses the Solent Old Gaffers Association T(H)F system which is administered by the Solent OGA. For further information download the Boat Registration Handicapping Form from the OGA website.
Trophies
The smaller boats compete for the Old Gaffers model, an historic model from the Royal London Yacht Club collection (photo on right is of David Hopkins of Chough being presented with the model by Mike Lilwall of Charles Stanley).
The larger boats including Polly Agatha, Beeleigh and Carlotta, race for the Caprice 1/2 model.
Beeleigh A 1913 Fred Shepherd gaffer. |
Carlotta Carlotta, a Heard 28. A replica Falmouth workboat. |
Chough Link: Classic Boat magazine on Chough. Photo: |
Polly Agatha Polly Agatha is a Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter and we are delighted that she is joining Charles Stanley Cowes Classics Week for the first time in 2015.
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Sepia Memory. Photo:
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Winifred Herreshoff Half-Rater. Photo:
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Howth 17 Link: Howth Yacht Club. Photo:
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